2005-06 Squirrel Hunting Cooperator Survey Report

Based on voluntary data provided by hunters, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources compiled squirrel hunting statistics for the 2005-06 season. Hunters killed an estimated 53% of all squirrels that were seen during the season.

Kentucky squirrel hunters averaged 12.6 hunting trips over the season. About a fourth (23%) of hunts included the use of dogs and averaged 2.5 hours in duration.

The number of squirrels seen by hunters averaged 3.9 per hunt, or 1.5 per hour. The number of squirrels killed (or “harvested”) averaged 2.1 per hunt or 0.8 per hour and included both gray and fox squirrels. These numbers are down sharply from 2004-2005 statistics reported by hunters.

About four in ten (42%) hunts occurred in August and September. This time period comprised about 25% of the squirrel season, but accounted for 41% of total squirrel harvest. It is one of the few seasons open in August and September, which may be responsible for this skew.

Hunters killed 52.8% of squirrels seen, and wounded an additional 2.3%. The hunting mortality rate was 55.1% of squirrels, assuming those wounded did not survive. Gray squirrels were killed 52% of the time and fox squirrels were killed 57% of the time that they were observed.